The Latest In Too Much Bother

In taking care of elderly folk the biggest upset and mayhem is the falling down. My dad has Parkinson's disease among other things, so falling down is a somewhat regular event. Sometimes he falls down even when he takes his meds. When he doesn't take his meds the probability goes through the roof.

So yesterday I get called home to pick him off the floor. Last night I'm putting together his pills for today and, what a surprise, the box from Saturday is almost full. I trot in to check on him, and sure enough, Sunday's box is still almost full too. Once again he is apparently on strike. "Why aren't you taking your meds?" I tried to keep calm and reasonable.

"I don't have any pill milk." He has gotten it into his head that only the special weight gain milk is good for washing down pills. I know he got a glass of regular milk or a soda with every meal, and can account for at least two in between that I got him at his request during my passes through over the weekend. Mom's computer is right across the hall from his day room, and I know by how frazzled she gets that when I'm not here he keeps her jumping.

But he apparently doesn't want to bother anyone by asking for milk, it's better just to skip the pills and get picked off the floor the next day. Thanks for the break pops.